Looking for Info on Air Travel W/ Kids

Please be advised that you CAN bring any prescription medications (up to 4 oz. of liquid) as long as you bring the prescription on the original bottle with you. I just got back from a trip myself.
Have a great trip.

Hi R.! I have a 4 year old son and I've traveled with him many many times. He's got the airport down to a science! Anyway, not too many new restrictions other than the gels and liquids. You cannot bring gels and liquids on to the airplane. This includes lipstick and chapstick so for you, remember to put them in your checked luggage!

Best advice for traveling with kids, bring lots to do! The best thing for my son has been the DVD player and headphones. He sits and watches his favorite movie while we are flying. The hardest part is keeping him busy from the time you take off to the time you can switch on the DVD player (10,000 feet). He brings his matchbox cars, coloring books and blanket. That usually keeps him busy.

I'm not sure what airline you are flying but I recommend Southwest Airlines for traveling with kids. Most people don't like that you don't have assigned seating but Southwest let's families preboard so you get on the plane first. This is nice because most of the kids are in the front of the plane and make funny faces to each other. :)

Hope this helps!

I just flew from Miami, FL to Chicago roundtrip and back again with my daughter who just turned three. The airport security restrictions are tough. We couldn't even bring a sippy cup with water for her. On the plane, the flight attendant could only give her the standard cup of water due to limited supplies. She did offer to refill it after my daugher drank it. So be sure to have your children drink plenty before and after the flight. Also, pack snacks that won't make them too thirsty. (My daughter ate some ham soon after we boarded and was asking for water during take off, when the flight attendants could not bring it. I gave her some gum to chew, and this kept her happy.) My carry-on was searched every time because it was full of books, toys, diapers, etc. So, just expect this. The more organized your bag is, the easier.

As for the airport and flight itself, my daughter did much better than I expected. The relative freedom of an airplane seatbelt (that at times could be removed) was much more comfortable for her than her car seat. We used to toilets on the place each time, and this is not easy. Just think of that small, not very clean space when you dress your children. My daugher wore her favorite overalls one time, and those were very difficult. If either of your children are girls, dresses are much easier.

Curbside check-in is well worth the extra couple of dollars per bag that you pay. Your bags are gone before you even enter the airport and you already have your boarding passes. Much, much easier, especially since you will need to wait in a long security check point line (unless you are very lucky), so skipping the check-in line means you and your children will have more patience.

And, that's the last bit of advice. Just know that you will need plenty of patience on the day you travel. One day, our flight arrived half an hour early, but the plane had not yet departed from our arrival gate. So we waited. And waited. For an hour. Because there was a suspicious suitcase on the outbound plane. These delays are more likely than ever. So, just be patient.

i just flew earlier this month and basically the less, the better. if its not essential, put it in your check in baggage, it will make you less frustrated w/the whole process. the flight attendants on southwest were great and very understanding of the situation. i had to dump my son's sippy but as soon as i got on the plane they filled it right up. also, if you're a germaphob like me, i would stock up on the individually wrapped handi-wipes as you cant take hand sanitizer gels on, etc. good luck and have fun on your trip.

Hello. We just flew with our 22 month old daughter and they did let us bring on a sippy cup, of juice. I guess it really depends on the airport that you are flying out of. We flew out of O'Hare and they didn't even say anything about it. Then, on the way back we flew out of Logan and they just put the sippy cup through the security xray machine. We just made sure she was drinking something when we took off and landed and she did GREAT! I don't know if you have a portable DVD player, but that helped alot too! Good luck!

www.tsa.gov
www.faa.gov
are the 2 sites I would recommend for general info about security issues and things that are and are not allowed.

Hi R.,

I just flew to Orlando with my 3 yr old and 6 yr old. I recommend bringing lots of gum or chewy candy so their ears do not pop. If you children are prone to ear infections I also recommend maybe giving them some motrin b4 you get on the plane.

I bought both the boys magic marker books at the airport (probablly get the same books at walmart or target) to keep them occupied along with a miniture airplane for them to play with.

We all wore sandles so it was easier to put back on through security. I do recommend getting there the 2 hrs early and maybe getting a bite to eat b4 you get on the plane. I also brought snacks for the ride.

I hope this helps you. Enjoy your trip

S.
Joliet

Hi R.,

I'm flying United next month and this is from there home page. Restrictions vary if your traveling out of the country, but here are the basics. Hope this helps.

N.

Carry-on baggage restrictions

Passengers may not have liquids, gels or aerosols of any size at the security checkpoint or in the cabin of the aircraft. These items include beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair gel, hair spray, liquid cosmetics and other items of similar consistency. Such items may be transported in checked baggage.

Passengers may have:

Baby formula/milk and baby food in small containers if a baby or small child is traveling.
Prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket.
Essential other non-prescription medicines not to exceed 4 oz. (120ml) per container.
Liquids or gels for diabetic passengers who indicate a need for such items to address their medical condition. Quantities are limited to no greater than 8 oz. (240ml) per container. Syringes and pumps are acceptable.
Solid cosmetics and personal hygiene items such as lipstick in a tube, solid deodorant, lip balm and similar solids.

I have flown with my daughter 4 times and she is just 2 1/2 years old. We talked to her about expectations on the plane and get her excited about going. I tried to make sure I brought things to keep her busy, books, crayons, snacks... We sang a lot, and we flew Southwest. We sat in the front row, and the flight attendants were great!!

The new restrictions are not that bad. You can bring food and toys, etc...just not water or drinks. When I boarded, I immediately asked the flight attendants for something to drink for her. They were helpful and got her something right away!

Don't bring any liquids, gels, anything with you (make-up, lip gloss, toothpaste, nothing) as it'll be confiscated at security. Also, don't buy it in the airport wiht the intention of carrying on as they will not allow it on the plane even then. We just flew last week with our 2 yr old and they made us dump her sippy cup of water b/c it wasn't breastmilk or formula. We were able to get the flight attendants to fill as soon as we boarded so that she coudl drink during take-off. Basically, less is best in terms of carry ons. Make sure to empty out anything in your purse (hand santizer gels, make-up, etc) as they'll catch that, too.

If you're taking anything that belongs to your children it will be frisked just like adult items. The only other thing I can say is be sure that your seats are correct at check-in, if you're flying an airline that assigns seats. I travelled this past summer with my 13 y/o daughter and 7 mo. old son, it was my daughter's first time flying and she was sitting in the back of the plane while I sat in the first row. Not a good situation and the airline did not understand the importance of being with my daughter on her first flight.

Some children have sensitive ears and they can cause pain during take off and landing....there is a product called Ear Planes for Children....you put them in the kids ears at take off before they close the cabin door and you can take them out at maxium flying altitude, then you put them back in 1 hour before landing and don't take them out until the door is open at the gate.
I use them since the popping in my ears is painful to me.
Good Luck! C.